The Burden of Thirst: Lynn Johnson

In wealthy parts of the world, people turn on a faucet and abundant, clean water pours out. In developing parts of the world, the task of fetching water can define life for women and children, human beasts of burden who may spend eight hours a day at this grueling task.

And the water they carry home is often dirty-nearly 900 million people lack access to clean water. Moreover, 2.5 billion have no safe way to dispose of human waste. Together these woes kill 3.3 million people a year-a vicious circle of misery, inequality, and death.